Missed Samsung’s Fan Edition series? Well, they’re back and now there are more devices within the slate! The company recently announced that after taking a year off, the FE line will be returning with a new smartphone, tablet, and for the first time, wireless earbuds.
For the unfamiliar, the Fan Edition products by Samsung are presented as affordable options for those who want the flagship features — think of it as an in-between for the budget ‘A’ series and the premium ‘S’ line.
In addition to the new FE line, there’s also an update for SmartTag; let’s take a look and see what Samsung has to offer.
Galaxy S23 FE
First up is the Galaxy S23 FE, which as you might expect, attempts to emulate Samsung’s Galaxy S23 flagship phone which came out earlier this year.
The Galaxy S23 FE brings the pro-grade 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide, though it will feature an 8MP telephoto lens as opposed to the 10MP one on the regular S23. That still brings an impressive spec list that would be hard to find in other mid-range phones.
It will also come with a larger 6.4-inch screen, retaining the same 120Hz refresh rate and vivid AMOLED panel for seeing your favourite media on. Additionally, the phone will be IP68-rated and have a larger 4,500mAh battery capacity.
As to where the cost-cutting measures can be seen, it seems that it will be the processor that takes the hit. The Exynos 2200 chip will be equipped inside the Galaxy S23 FE, which may prove divisive considering the reputation of Samsung’s Exynos processor amongst users.
The phone will retail at S$888 (128GB) and S$988 (256GB), with a myriad of cool colours available to choose from — which includes Mint, Cream, Graphite, and Purple. Two additional colours, Indigo and Tangerine, will be exclusive to the Samsung Online Store.
Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series
The Galaxy Tab S9 line was announced less than three months ago, and yet, we are already getting a Fan Edition version of their tablets. Quite the surprise from Samsung.
The FE series will come with two tablet options — the 10.9-inch Galaxy Tab S9 FE and 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ — and offers several big features that will pique the interest of tablet users, all for a lower price than the regular Galaxy Tab S9 series.
Namely, both Galaxy Tab S9 FE tablets will be IP68-rated; a big feature that was touted for the flagship versions. The FE tablet line will also get an improved 90Hz refresh rate display, though it uses an LCD panel instead of AMOLED. Creatives will be glad to know that the S Pen is included in the box as well. However, like the S23 FE, it will also be using Exynos; the Exynos 1380 processor to be more specific.
Starting at S$669, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series will be available in Mint and Grey for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, while the larger Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ will get a Silver colourway.
Galaxy Buds FE
Finally, the last of Samsung’s Fan Edition devices for this year comes in the form of wireless earbuds — Galaxy Buds FE. The company’s earbuds have regularly gotten praise for their performance and now, there is an even more affordable option for people to consider.
While it will miss out on 360 audio, users will still be able to get Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Sound features with the Galaxy Buds FE; nowadays an essential feature for most people.
Samsung also says that the Buds FE will have the “longest battery life in the Buds series”, providing up to 8.5 hours of playback with earbuds with ANC off, with a total of up to 30 hours if you include the charging case. With ANC on, it is still an impressive performance of 6 hours and 21 hours respectively.
It will be priced at S$158 and come with Graphite and White as the two colour options. For those who might be interested in the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series, the new FE earbuds are included for free during the 20 October to 10 November launch period, so be sure to take advantage of this promo!
Galaxy SmartTag2
Other than the new FE series of devices, Samsung was on hand to showcase the next iteration of their item trackers; SmartTag2.
The new SmartTag2 has a new look, coming with a ring-shaped design that Samsung says will enhance product durability due to the use of metal on the inside of the ring. With the new design, the tracker is also smaller than its predecessor, giving it more flexibility in terms of fitting with your items.
A key feature of the tracker is Lost Mode. If you happen to lose an item with SmartTag2 attached, anyone who finds it can scan the tag and see your message and contact information that you’ve inputted within the device. And it works with any smartphone that has an NFC reader and web browser.
Samsung users who have the company’s latest phones have the additional benefit of getting an improved Compass View, which now provides helpful arrows to show the direction and distance of where the Galaxy SmartTag2 tracker is.
Lastly, expect a longer battery life with the Galaxy SmartTag2. Compared to previous models it will last twice as long (up to 700 days) on Power Saving Mode and even for the Normal Mode, users will still get 500 days of battery life — a 50% increase.
Available in Black and White, the Galaxy SmartTag2 will cost S$38. Various cases for the tracker like a Key Ring Case, Silicone Case, and Rugged Case are also available for purchase.
After a year away, the return of the Fan Edition line of products is an exciting one for those who were already looking at Samsung’s premium devices, with many high-end features from the flagships making their way here as well. Plus the reveal of SmartTag2 is a nice bonus too.
All of Samsung’s newest product devices will be made widely available in Singapore on 20 October 2023 on the Samsung Online Store, Samsung’s official merchant page on Lazada and Shopee, as well as the major consumer electronics stores and telecommunication operators. But if you’re keen on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE specifically, here’s a secret: you can order it from the Samsung Online Store on 10 October 2023 and get it earlier!
Photos by Russell Loh of the DANAMIC Team. Additional visuals courtesy of Samsung Singapore.
